Righteous

Scriptures:

Ephesians 6:10–15 NKJV

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Proverbs 4:23 NKJV

23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

We must be aware of the schemes of the Devil that are designed to cripple us spiritually and render us ineffective. Righteousness is devoid of human achievement. It is imputed as we put our faith in Christ. We cannot make ourselves righteous. We must receive righteousness.

dikaiosuné: Righteousness, justice

Original Word: δικαιοσύνη Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: dikaiosuné Pronunciation: dee-kah-yos-oo'-nay Phonetic Spelling: (dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay) Definition: Righteousness, justice Meaning: (usually if not always in a Jewish atmosphere), justice, justness, righteousness, righteousness of which God is the source or author, but practically: a divine righteousness.

Word Origin: Derived from δίκαιος (dikaios), meaning "righteous" or "just."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - צֶדֶק (tsedeq) - Strong's Hebrew 6664: Often translated as "righteousness" or "justice."

- צְדָקָה (tsedaqah) - Strong's Hebrew 6666: Refers to righteousness, justice, or acts of charity.

Usage: Dikaiosuné primarily denotes the quality of being right or just. In the New Testament, it is often used to describe the righteousness that comes from God, which is imputed to believers through faith in Jesus Christ. It encompasses both the legal standing of being declared righteous before God and the ethical conduct that flows from this new status. The term is central to Pauline theology, emphasizing that righteousness is not achieved by human effort but is a gift from God through faith.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, righteousness was often associated with fulfilling one's duties to gods and men, maintaining social harmony, and adhering to laws and customs. In Jewish thought, righteousness was closely linked to covenant faithfulness and obedience to the Law of Moses. The New Testament writers, particularly Paul, redefined righteousness in light of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, presenting it as a divine gift rather than a human achievement.

a. Righteousness is IMPUTED.

b. Our status has changed. We are now a citizen of Heaven

c. We therefore govern ourselves accordingly in alignment with our legally declared position

SS: I have a new status! n

The enemy wants you to be ignorant of your status and your rights. That way you can leave your heart exposed to the poison of the world.

Righteousness and right choices must govern our life. The choices we make effect the outcomes we receive. Satan has all sorts of ways he can influence what enters our hearts. Those influences can only enter the heart in 2 ways.

A. The eyes

The eyes should be heavily gaurded as what we give our visual attention to will affect us in dramatic ways.

Matthew 6:22–23 NKJV

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Jesus speaks to the singleness of the eye. He is speaking of a spiritual condition. He is indicating that the spiritual condition cannot be divided. In other words, what we let divide our devotion can infect and affect us. Jesus tells us that if the eye is single (of pure moral character) the body is blessed. We should therefore protect our spirits by protecting our eyes. The enemy is strategically placing sin and visually appealing debauchery in the world for us all to behold and be distracted by.

Power Principle: You cannot ingest poison and produce purity. Whatever we consume will affect us. Spiritually, You are what you eat. What are some things that are common to the modern day christian and may fly under the radar but can be destructive?

A. Movies with nudity, excessive violence and sexual content

B. Social Media podcasts that promote anti-christian views and behavior

C. Social Media posts with improperly dressed or vulgar acting or speaking individuals.

D. Suggestive television shows that promote unGodly lifestyles.

E. Pornographic or racy profiles and websites

F. Social Media podcasts that speak to cultural roles such as the role of men and women in relationship but have no solid biblical support.

Power Principle:

Although we have Christian liberty, we should exercise biblical wisdom and gaurd our souls from the mire of the world.

Psalm 119:9–16 NKJV

9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. 16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

2 Corinthians 6:17 NKJV

17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

Jesus tells

B. The Ears

Listening to the wrong influences or influencers will shift our direction. It does so by reposition the perspectives and stances of the heart from righteous to unrighteous. We must careful to live rigtheously.

Psalm 1:1–6 NKJV

1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 1:2 NKJV

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Strong's Lexicon

chephets: Delight, pleasure, desire, purpose, matter

Original Word: חֵפֶץ Part of Speech: Noun Masculine Transliteration: chephets Pronunciation: KHEH-fets Phonetic Spelling: (khay'-fets) Definition: Delight, pleasure, desire, purpose, matter Meaning: pleasure, desire, a valuable thing, a matter

Word Origin: Derived from the root חָפֵץ (chafets), meaning "to delight in" or "to desire."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G2107 (εὐδοκία, eudokia):Good pleasure, delight, satisfaction

- G2307 (θέλημα, thelema): Will, desire, pleasure

Usage: The Hebrew word "chephets" primarily conveys the idea of delight or pleasure, often in the context of what is pleasing or desirable. It can also refer to a purpose or matter of interest. In the biblical context, it is used to describe both human desires and God's pleasure or will.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, the concept of "chephets" was closely tied to the heart's inclinations and desires. It was understood that what one delights in reveals much about their character and priorities. The term is used in various contexts, from personal desires to divine purposes, reflecting the holistic nature of Hebrew thought where spiritual and physical realms are interconnected.

For the Sheep:

Power Principle: Some never realize the reason their appetite isn’t for the things of God is because they are constantly filled by the things of the world. Remember, you are what you eat!

Strong's Lexicon

hagah: To meditate, to murmur, to ponder, to speak, to utter

Original Word: הָגָה Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hagah Pronunciation: hah-GAH Phonetic Spelling: (daw-gaw') Definition: To meditate, to murmur, to ponder, to speak, to utter Meaning: to murmur, to ponder

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G3191 (μελετάω, meletao): To care for, attend to carefully, practice, meditate

- G3056 (λόγος, logos): Word, speech, principle, thought

Usage: The Hebrew verb "hagah" primarily means to meditate or to ponder deeply. It conveys the idea of a thoughtful, reflective consideration, often accompanied by a low sound or murmur, as one might do when speaking softly to oneself. In the context of the Hebrew Bible, "hagah" is frequently used to describe the act of meditating on God's law, His works, or His words, suggesting a deep, internalized engagement with divine truths.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, meditation was not a silent, passive activity but an active engagement with the text or subject matter. The practice of "hagah" involved vocalizing or murmuring the words of Scripture, allowing them to resonate within the heart and mind. This method of meditation was integral to the spiritual life of the Israelites, as it facilitated memorization, understanding, and internalization of God's commandments and teachings.

C. The Spiritual Junk Drawer

Inviting the presence of Demonic activity. Christians cannot be possessed. However, they can invite the presence od demonic activity around them by their unrighteous living. That is why many find themselves in loops and patterns of “situational sameness”

Luke 11:24–26 NKJV

24 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

Solution: Psalm 119:11

Psalm 119:11 NKJV

11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

they word have I hidden in my heart

D. Righteous Living is a Light and bright Path

Proverbs 4:18 NKJV

18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. sq``